Recipe of the Month: Chicken Tortilla Soup
October's featured recipe is an easy and comforting soup that is perfect for a chilly fall night - Chicken Tortilla Soup!
Goals: The Secret Ingredient for Success
Eniola King, MPsy, PsyD Candidate, Institute for the Psychological Sciences Stacy Ogbeide, PsyD, ABPP, Board Certified Clinical Health Psychologist, UT Health San Antonio Goals, goals, and more goals – a topic important for those living with chronic kidney disease and going through dialysis. Self-management is one of the hallmarks of having a chronic disease, yet many people living with chronic conditions do not know where to start. If you feel stuck in the management of chronic kidney disease or your options are no longer working, setting goals that are “SMART,” or specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and [...]
My New Normal
By Karim Rattani, DPC Patient Ambassador My journey with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has included much suffering, but it has also shaped me into a stronger, more loving man. Throughout all of it, I’ve adjusted to a “new normal” with ESRD and found that life can still be fulfilling and full of possibilities. I worked as a chauffeur and ran a public transportation Limousine service business just before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, most of the businesses were shutdown with an executive order and therefore I, like many others, also lost most [...]
Sometimes It’s a Blessing in Disguise
By Layce Ryan, DPC Patient Ambassador I remember when I first learned about my kidney disease. I was a college student living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, when I suddenly fell very ill. After running some tests, the doctors diagnosed me with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a type of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is the early stages of full kidney failure, also known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). In an instant, my life changed dramatically, and I was faced with the reality that the worst was yet to come. It would be 10 years before I began dialysis [...]
Ask the Doctor September 2024
Velma Scantlebury, MD, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant 1. I have been on dialysis for three months. After treatment in the dialysis facility, I am tired and feel bloated. When will I begin to feel better? Dialysis removes excess fluid and waste products. This happens by shifting fluid from one compartment so that the dialysis process can remove the extra fluid. This «dialysis fatigue» is experienced by about 50% of patients. Anemia, electrolyte imbalance, and stress can also be contributors to the condition. Many recommend getting plenty of rest, eating more protein, eating a balanced diet, and [...]
I Can Do Anything I Set My Mind To
By Stephanie Dixon, DPC Patient Ambassador When I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in 2001, I felt like my life was over. Many newly diagnosed ESRD patients share this fear, but it's possible to live a full and happy life on dialysis. While ESRD requires adjusting to a "new normal," this journey provides opportunities for growth and valuable lessons. When I was first diagnosed with ESRD in 2001, I was immediately concerned for my two children, Jason and Joy. As the year passed, my body shut down, and I could no longer walk. Finally, I [...]
DPC’s 2024 Advocacy Day and 20th Anniversary Celebration
Megan Hashbarger, DPC Vice President of Government Relations This past May, DPC hosted our annual Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., where we brought together patients, family members, and care givers to meet with their Members of Congress to elevate the patient story for dialysis patients. This year, we had 65 advocates attend, representing 25 states, who had almost 80 Congressional meetings. Our patients spoke to Congressional offices asking them to support H.R. 6860 – The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act and H.R. 5027/S. 4469 – The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act. These two [...]
The Kidney Citizen Issue 19
Welcome to the New Normal issue of the Kidney Citizen! The DPC Education Center is excited to share with you articles that embody patient adaptability and resilience, provide knowledge, and help you to live your best life with kidney disease.
Recipe of the Month: Zucchini Cake
September's featured recipe, Zucchini Cake, is an excellent way to put your summer's end abundance of zucchini to use!
Recipe of the Month: Shrimp Scampi
August's featured recipe, Shrimp Scampi, is the perfect for when you don't want to spend longer than a few minutes cooking on a hot stove.